Explorer Amarc Resources has opened the door for a new partnership on two British Columbia copper projects, after diversified miner Hudbay Minerals relinquished its options to earn an interest in the IKE porphyry copper/molybdenum project, near Gold Bridge, and the JOY gold/copper project in the Toodoggone region.
The 464 km2 JOY property covers the northern extension of the prolific Kemess porphyry gold/copper district. Over the last two years, Amarc and Hudbay invested C$5.55-million in the property and completed extensive airborne and ground exploration surveys along with compiling thousands of geochemical and geophysical survey data points from previous operators, which included Gold Fields Toodoggone Exploration and Cascadero Copper. This work has delineated multiple, high-potential, porphyry gold/copper deposit targets.
At the 462 km2 IKE property, Amarc and Hudbay completed extensive induced polarisation geophysical surveys, talus geochemical sampling and drilling with a total exploration investment of C$4.9-million over the last two years. This work has delineated a 3.5 km by 2 km mineralised system, which hosts the IKE porphyry copper/molybdenum/silver deposit discovery.
Amarc believes the IKE project has the potential to possess the grades and tonnages to develop into an important mining camp.